United States Eventing Association

For the second time, George Morris, The Father of Modern Equitation, taught a two-day jumping clinic at Boyd and Silva Martin’s farm, Windurra, in Cochranville, PA on May 26-27. Local riders were invited to participate, a group of auditors were there watching, and a couple of the Martins’ sponsors, Purina and Stuebben, were on-hand with products and information.

Boyd said, “It was wonderful to welcome George Morris to Windurra for the second time. It was an excellent two-day clinic and a real reminder to me about the importance of the fine details of the art of riding. In the lessons that I rode in, I felt like he pushed us all and was very precise in what he wanted from us as riders.”

Morris likes to focus on the basics, and watching the four-star riders trot around like so many Pony Clubbers - first adjusting their stirrups and then focusing on leg, hand and body position - was a good reminder for auditors that everyone always has something to learn, and the basics need constant reinforcement.

Winning Irish Steeplechase jockey Mark Beecher joined the second group of the day, riding alongside four-star eventers Phillip Dutton, Waylon Roberts, Matt Brown and Boyd Martin. He said, “I hadn’t been in the ring for a good while, but it’s not every day you get George Morris to help you out so why not,” he said. “We all need critics on the ground; just because you’re at the top at the moment doesn’t mean you don’t still have a lot to learn.”

Morris reminded riders that there is not just one correct leg position, one correct hand position, or even one correct half-halt. When one horse stopped repeatedly, he had riders practice a defensive position on the approach to the fence, with the seat in the saddle and upper body vertical, as opposed to the two-point position, sinking slightly into the saddle on the approach.

“Sit on your buttocks, as opposed to your crotch, as you’re approaching the fence,” advised Morris. “You’ll see this position is effective but not as smooth. It’s not preferable, but it’s a very important position.”

While Morris likes it when riders look elegant in the saddle, he has no patience for ineffective passengers. He encouraged riders to think for themselves and make corrections when necessary, even if it didn’t look pretty. He also encouraged riders to let horses make small mistakes, like getting a bad distance or rubbing a rail, so that the horses learn to think for themselves.

Much of the last lesson of the day focused on riders’ hands. Morris said that while it is a fashion for riders to carry the hands low, that puts pressure on the bars of the mouth, irritating the horse. He constantly reminded riders with low hands to raise their hands.

“You pull your hands up; the horse will accept the bit and start to drop the head,” he told one rider whose horse was frequently tossing her head. “If a horse is really strong, I’ll get my hands up by my chest if I have to, so the horse can’t escape or evade my hands. The horse has to accept your hand. If he evades your hands and you put your hands down, the horse has achieved success.”

Morris is known as much for his sharp comments as his mastery of equitation. Later he quipped to another rider, “Elevate the poll so he’s uphill. They’re not a bunch of wheelbarrows!”